MetroCOG_NaturalHazardMitigationPlan_2024.pdf

This document is a 2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) prepared by the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) for six municipalities: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. The plan is a comprehensive update to previous mitigation strategies, covering the period from 2024 to 2029, and is designed to reduce potential losses from natural disasters through proactive planning. The document was developed through extensive data collection, public meetings, stakeholder engagement, and risk assessments, with draft versions scheduled for public review on May 29, 2024, submission to the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) on June 5, 2024, and submission to FEMA on June 17, 2024.

The plan focuses on identifying and mitigating risks from various natural hazards including hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, extreme temperatures, wildfires, and earthquakes. Funding for implementation will come from multiple sources including federal programs like FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Each municipality has developed specific priorities and implementation strategies, with cost estimates ranging from minimal staff time investments to multi-million dollar infrastructure projects. The plan emphasizes a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, property protection, infrastructure improvements, natural systems protection, public education, and emergency service enhancements, with a particular focus on addressing climate change impacts and protecting vulnerable populations.